TOWER—The city council here will seek a roughly two-million-dollar federal funding package to extend sewer and water to Marina Drive as well as address a number of utility issues on South Third St.
The city will let the Tower-Breitung Wastewater Board make its own application for a fourth treatment pond to address the capacity limitations in the three existing ponds.
Mayor Dave Setterberg said he had consulted with Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office and had been informed that the “sweet spot” for local projects in Washington was around $1.5-$2 million.
The federal funding could provide up to 80 percent of the project costs, although Setterberg said he was optimistic that the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation funds could help fill much of the remaining funding gap. The IRRR had considered funding a sewer extension to Marina Drive, which could connect the planned new RV park, the Your Boat Club marina, the Marjo Motel and accompanying property, the county public works garage, and the True Value store to the municipal system. The Tower Economic Development Authority also owns five acres along Marina Drive, purchased in 2020, as a potential site for a new hotel.
City officials offered few details on the South Third St. project or any current cost estimates.
In other business, the council gave the first reading to a change in the city’s zoning ordinance, advocated by council member Kevin Norby, that could clarify the rules surrounding the construction of garages on lots without an accompanying residential structure. The change would allow for the construction of garages in all residential classifications on adjacent lots as long as the adjacent lots are re-platted as one lot.
Norby said the ordinance, which was discussed but never recommended by the city’s planning and zoning commission, would help to reduce blight by making it possible for homeowners to create more indoor storage space. At the same time, he said the intent of the change was to ensure that vacant lots in town don’t become used solely for storage. The ordinance would also require that a lot used by an adjacent homeowner for construction of a garage, be connected to utilities to facilitate the possible future construction of a residence on the lot.
In other action, the council:
• Rejected the lone bid, from C&C Winger for $500, for the purchase of the city’s old grader. The city had put a minimum bid of $5,000 on the equipment. The council opted to readvertise the grader with a $4,000 minimum bid.
• Heard an update but took no action on the pending transfer of the Gundersen Trust to the Duluth-Superior Area Community Fund.
• Referred a request from Dave Mesojedec to purchase 2.5 acres of city-owned land just off Pike Bay, on the south side of Hoodoo Point Road, to the ad hoc forestry committee for consideration. Mesojedec said he is interested in building a garage and a well on the property.
• Approved the low bid of $146,562 from Mesabi Bituminous for parking lot reconstruction and culvert repair at the Tower Airport. The total project cost, including engineering and construction administration, will run $207,762 and the city will be responsible for five percent, or $10,388.
• Gave the second and final reading of a new ordinance pertaining to the management of RV parks and other campgrounds in the city.
• Agreed to put the city’s water and sewer line jetter up for bid, with a minimum bid of $1,400. The city is looking to get out of the business of line thawing, mostly due to liability concerns.
• Heard from Schultz about several minor upgrades to the city’s website.
• Approved an amended 2022 budget under the consent agenda. The biggest change is an increase in the forecasted revenues to the general fund, from $442,883 to $552,064.